Button-machine



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. OASSIDY, OF NEiVARK, NE? JERSEY.

BUTTON-MACHINE.

SPECIPICATIC N forming part of Letters Patent No. 36?,501, dated August2, 1887. Application filed April 16, 1887. Serial No. 234.901. (NomoilelJ To aZZ whmn it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JOHN T. CAssIDY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Button Machines; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

In said drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of abutton-machine embodying my improvements; and Figs. 2, 3, and 4 aredetail views of the same.

The object of the invention is to overcome certain objections urgedagainst machines of this class heretofore in use, to facilitate themanufacture of buttons, and to make a more perfect article.

In referring to the drawings, A and B, Figs. 1 and 2, represent,respectively, a suitable frame and base or bed plate, the latter beingadapted to receive and support a rotating plate, 0, provided with aseries of receptacles, D, which carry a series of dies or shapers, D, ofdifferent sizes, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Said dies andreceptacles are of varying sizes, corresponding with the sizes of thebuttons, as will be understood. Operated by a suitable lever, E, is avertically-moving plunger, F, Fig. 1, carrying a removable upper die orformer, G, the bottom end of which -is recessed and provided with acentral projeetion, 0, by means of which the metal back or shell of thebutton is pressed or closed tightly down upon the back part of saidbutton and clinched or fastened thereon, completing and finishing thesame in one operation. Adjusted upon the bottom end of said upper die orformer is a vertically-movingcntteror crimper, c, which moves verticallyupon being limited in its motion by a stop-pin, p, projecting through aslot, p, Figs. 1 and 4. Said crimpers and dies vary in size, accordingto the size of the buttons. (Usually there are three sizes.) Saidcutters or crimpers serve to cut and afterward to turn or fold the clothbeneath the said metal back or shell before said plunger,

the latter is pressed home and fastened, as above stated, and as will behereinafter more particularly described. The bottom edge of said crimperis in its normal condition, say, one-quarter of an inch (more or less)below the end of the upper die, it being held thereat by a spring, 8,Fig. 1, so that when the plunger is operated the crimper first comes incontact with the cloth blank or cover which has been laid on top of oneof the receptacles D and the bnttonmold placed thereon and pressed bythe finger into the cavity upon the die or shaper D, and the back orshell placed in position, and as the pressure on the plunger isincreased forces the upturned cloth inward beneath the shell, and at thesame time the central projection, 0 on the upper die engages theinside'of the hub on the button-mold and spreads and clinches the sameover upon said back or'shell, firmly fastening the same and completingthe operation in one motion.

\Vhen the pressure upon the lever is re leased,a lever, 1%, Fl g. 1, ispressed downward, and the short arm thereof engages with said die orshaper at the bottom and presses the same upward, thereby throwing thebutton out of the cavity, as will be understood by referring to saidFig. 1.

The rotating plate 0, above referred to, is provided with notches 11,each of which engages in turn with a springpawl, 0, when turned in therequisite position to enable the criinper c to engage the receptacles,as will be understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of the device is as follows: The cloth blank is laid overone of the receptacles above the anvil or shaper and the button-moldlaid on top of the cloth and by the thumb or finger pressed down intothe cavity on the top of the die or shaper, which operation curls thecloth upward around the outer rim or periphery of the mold. The metalback or shell is then laid on top 'ofthe cloth and the plunger broughtdown by means of the lever, whereupon the crimper, first coming incontact with the upturned edge of the cloth, on the outer side thereof,presses it down on the button-mold, and as the crimper recedes the upperdie comes in contact with the back or shell and the central portion orspreader of said die engages with the hollow hub of the button mold onthe inside thereof, thereby pressing the back firmly down upon the clothand clinching said hub over upon the central part of said back at thesame time, thereby finishing the operation at one stroke of the lever.On releasingthe lever the finished button is thrown from the machine bymeans of the lever R, which engages with the button die or shaper at thebottom, as above stated. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination, in a button machine, of a rotating plate provided withreceptacles, as D,anvils or shapers, as D, fitting in said receptacles,as shown, a vertieallvmovable plunger, as F, an upper die, as G,adjusted upon said plunger, and a cutter or erimper, as 0, working onsaid upper die, said parts being an ranged and adapted to operatesubstantially as and for the purposes set forth 2. The combination, in abutton-machine, of a rotating plate, as 0, having receptacles therein,carrying a die or shaper, as D, and a lever, as R, adapted to operatesaid dies, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, in a button-maehine, of a verticallyanovableplunger, as F, an upper die, as G, adjusted thereon, a cutter orcrimper, as c, adjusted and movable on said die G, a spring, as s, andmeans, as p andp, for limiting the movement ofsaid crimper, said partsbe ing arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for thepurposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this28th day of March, 1887.

JOHN T. GASSIDY.

\Vit uesses:

OLIVER DRAKE, OSCAR A. Mrennn.

